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February 7, 2010

Valentine's Day is approaching. Every year I like to buy a new dress for the occasion. This year I fell in love with this Modcloth one. I even very nearly bought it. But when it came time to plug in my credit card number I just couldn't do it. It's one thing to bookmark a dress, it's another to drain your bank account for one.

It looked so simple I thought it would be irresponsible of me not to at least try to recreate it before buying it. However, I also had my heart set on doing another refashion frock.

So I decided to kill two birds with one stone and buy a red dress at the Salvation Army to turn into my Modcloth vision. I bought this one for $2.50 in the perfect lipstick red that I was looking for.

Basically I cut the bottom half away from the bodice and turned it around so that the front became the back. I cut the 'new' bodice so that the sleeves and body were one piece, like the Modcloth version.I then sewed the rest of the skirt onto the bodice in gathers. I believe the Modcloth version used tiny pleats but unfortunately, I didn't have quite enough fabric to do that.

In the end, I think my version came pretty close. And seeing as I had a zipper on hand the entire dress only cost $2.50 rather than $99 plus shipping. What a 'cherry' of a deal.

I imagined wearing this dress on a first Valentine's Day Date. It had a very girl next door look to it. Not exactly 'sexy' but more 'flirty'.

Unfortunately, I don't think I could wear this dress out to a long dinner. As with my other two girls, I am breastfeeding Eloise, which makes all my clothes WAY to small. In the photos, to lessen my bustline, I'm wearing a SUPER bra. As in 'super' painful.

I can only stand to wear it for 10 minutes at a time. I can't breath, my shoulders ache and my torso develops deep red creases, but gosh, does it make my chest look much better than reality.As of now, I don't even know if I will have a reason to wear a Valentine's dress. It will be quite difficult to do anything outside of the house for a couple months.The baby is so tiny I can't imagine leaving her with anyone other than Brian. Her body is so small she doesn't fit into anything but Carter's newborn onsies. I hesitate to put a blanket over her for fear it will smother her.Perhaps we'll have to book our reservations at a more child-friendly establishment. Something between Tavern on the Green and Chuck'e'Cheese.

Since I'm not down to my pre-baby weight this dress is made to fit a slightly larger size than my previous dresses. I'd say it would fit an 8-10.

Also, I received a couple emails about winners. I know I have been horribly behind. I will try to have them up by tomorrow.

Many of you said that you would like to enter more giveaways, but have various issues with linking. Of course, I want anyone that is interested in entering a giveaway to be able to do so.Therefore, from now on, giveaways can be entered in three ways:

1) By linking (to your blog, facebook, myspace, or any other site)

2) By leaving a comment without a link or

3) By linking and leaving a comment (this will be worth 2 entries which will better your chances of winning). Find more info under the FAQ page.

If you are leaving a link just use the 'create a link' at the bottom of this post or simply creating a post on your blog and including this link.

If you use blogger just use the "create a link" link at the bottom of this post. If you don't use blogger, that's fine too. Just create a link on your page as you normally would and I will see it using Technorati.

hmmm... maybe I missed it but I didn't see a specific giveaway item listed... is it for this beautiful red dress? Or a new similar dress in custom size? Either way your dress is gorgeous and I envy your sewing skills!

some people are gonna call you crazy Kathleen, already back to it when you have just had a newborn BUT like you said your almost confined to the house with baby Eloise and the whole breastfeeding thing so I guess sewing would be your sanity saver....it is for meso good on you!

I think your refashions are my fave cause I would never have the imagination to transform such a shapeless dress into an amazing V day frock! well done!

are you serious?! i can't believe that this dress came from that big frumpy mumu! i am in absolute awe of how closely it resembles the modcloth version- and what a steal! i'd definitely love to have this little number in my closet for sure!! what talent!

I love how you changed that big shapeless dress into such a cute party dress! I love the color and am so excited that it's my size. I posted about it on my blog: http://intheberrypatch.wordpress.comAmazing work!

whoop whoop! your post-baby size is my "i've lost 35 lbs. size" I'm so excited! I would love to win this! I would wear it almost everyday! you're brilliant! I love that you nade it for $2.50! such a great deal!

I can hardly believe it's the same dress. I'll post to my blog as well as leaving a comment, even though I'm not sure if that's one entry or two. Regardless I just wanted to say WOW great job! 8-10 is my next) goal weight and I'm nearly there, if I win this dress it will be my "goal garment", since I fit my last "goal garment" now. ;)

Oh my. I think it looks even better than the modcloth one you were looking at. I really wish I had the time to make my own clothes and refashion things, but 21 credits at college leaves me way short on time.

I love it! And... your pain is my gain, as I am barely back down to a size 8 10 months after having my 3rd. You did a great job- this is why it's so hard to buy clothes... even though mine don't turn out as good as yours, it's hard to want to spend so much on things that you can "make" yourself!

I'm in love with that dress. I'm just always ammazed by your talent and it always makes me want to learn sewing.Here's the link to my blog post:http://ourfamilyisaworkofheart.blogspot.com/2010/02/cherry-pop-refashion-frock-grosgrain.html

Love this Cherry Pop Refashion dress! You are so talented and inspiring. I really want to learn how to sew so I can transform ugly clothes into beauties (like the ones you make) and throw in lots of Victorian style touches which I love. I bought a sewing machine, so maybe 2010 will be the year I actually learn!

I just have to say that some people's comments can be so irritating. First of all I want to tell you how fabulous you look for just having a baby. But I also want to say to the person who commented "it's horrifying that you would refer to an 8/10 as a larger size" get a pair of GLASSES. Kathleen simply mentioned that this is a larger size than she personally is when not preganant/ breastfeeding. And I want to point out that on a regular basis "larger" than her normal size is requested by many of her fans. Please just stop TRYING to be offended...

So cute! I hope I win! You are SO amazing to turn that before into that!!! And something that would probably fit me. And I hear you about the nursing! My 3rd baby is now 5 months and finally my bust is getting smaller. Yay!

I love your dress make-overs. The silver one was great, but this red one is outstanding. I'd love it! I posted links to your apron post & today's post on my blog: http://cobblecobble.wordpress.com. Thanks!